Car construction



Dec. 12, 1933. s. SIMONSON CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 8. 1951 3Sheets-Sheet l m M M M O D E O O R N m N m w M m /w @om m Wm Mo o @OOOOOOO m 0000 /fj o oo oooo m f o o k u M A w om n BN $9 m m@ O O o l! vvN MM UNI LN o o O O o o o 00% wAuOOM muy ooooo, o o c ma o o v O C o oQN l w w d m\ w. N 0% o Sw o o o m o w o oo o o oooo ou La@ MM n kw kmL'\|\ k NN o HNUHHHNMHHMMM o o o o q o Ua||lU|l|nnr oo oowxoo ooMomoxwlomuooooooooooooqo. OOOO L w so o C@ mm). o o oo Sv M @Q Sv w M Sv wQN M Me w w |0\ \\Q\ O J N M w s Q w w .H D 5x gm .mw w o o D ooooo Dec.12, 1933 s. slMoNsoN 1,938,754

CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 8. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a all fl'll .Il

lilllldl Md m uw QN @.Nimv mw ICI l! l A/NVENTOR JLM .Logo @[moooooo muo AFILVLV momonooomeoo o ATTORNEYS Dec. l2, 1933. s slMoNSoN CARCONSTRUCTION Filed July 8. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 f w w I I I i l I IPatented Dec. 12, 1933' PATENT A.ori-ics i CAR CONSTRUCTION' SigvardSimonson, Butler, vPa., assigner to 0. C. Duryea Corporation,Wilmington, Del., a cor-V d poration of Delaware Application July s,1931. serial No. 549,473. J

8 Claims.

This invention relates to car constructions of the type embodying acontinuous draft and bufiing column or center member that extendssubstantially the length of the car structure and `IS is mounted forlongitudinal movement relative to the car structure and body bolsters.

In car constructions embodying the usual type of draft gear, energywhich is transferred from one car to another as in train service or incou 10 pling cars together is transmitted through a draft gear mountedat the end of the car structure and rigidly connected to the centersills and cai` body. It is desirable to increase the travel of suchdraft gears in order that energy absorbing capacity may be increasedwithout excessively high forces, but at the same time there are rigidlimitations on the permissible amount of train slack. With the usualdraft gear, the travel of the gear limits both the train slack and theenergy absorbing 2O travel so that a compromise is necessary between thedesired long travel for cushioning purposes and the desired short travelfor train slack purposes.

It has been proposed heretofore, as for example in the United Statespatentto Otho C. Duryea, No. 1,693,194, to provide a car underframewherein train slack and energy absorption capacity are controlledseparately .each to provide the most desirable operating conditions andwithout the necessity of compromise. The Duryea underframe embodies amember movable relative to the car structure and body bolsters andadapted for long travel, that is, for travel materially greater than canbe provided in theV usual draft gear because of train slack limitations,and the car body is cushioned by suitable resilient or friction meansinterposed between the center meinber and the car structure. Train slackis controlled independently of cushioning by means in- 40 cludingcouplers mounted at the ends of the center member for limited movementof any desired extent with respect thereto whereby train slack can bereduced materially below that which can be provided by the usual draftgear because the travel must be kept as high as possible to provide forenergy absorption.

The movable center member of a Duryea underframe comprises a pair ofspaced channel members extending substantially the length of the carstructure and suitably connected together so that they are movable as aunit withrespect to the car body. To this end the car holsters and crossbearers have heretofore each been provided with a pair of spacedopenings through which the channel members extend slidably and the chan-(Cl. 21S-8') nel'mernbers have been connected by suitable tie and coverplates spaced along the length of the channel members.

Itis desirable to have the center member as strong as possible in orderto increase the strength and rigidity of the underframe. The stresses inthe material of the center member are dependent among other factors onthe area of material included in a cross-section through the centermember and also on the section modulus of the particular form ofcross-section, but the desirable amount of material in the center memberis limited by weight and cost considerations and the cross-sectionalform of the center member is governed to a certain extent by therequirement that the center member be capable of longitudinal movementthrough and with respect to the bolsters and cross bearers. Heretoforethe cross-section of a Duryea center member has comprised a sectionthrough two spaced channel 'members and the material of the tie andcover plates has not materially strengthened the center member becausethe strength is dependent on the weakest cross-section- One of theobjects of the present invention is to provide a novel center member fora Duryea underframe wherein the'distribution of material is improved andmade more efiicient and the center member thereby strengthened. Y

Another object is to provide an underframe of the Duryea type embodyinga center member in which spaced channels are connected by top andVbottom cover plates which are continuous and extend substantially fromone bolster to the other, passing slidably through the cross bearers.

Another object is to provide a Duryea underframe embodying improvedcross bearer construction wherein the cross bearers are each providedwith a single centrally disposed opening for the passage of the completecenter member and with novel means for guiding the center member duringits longitudinal movement relative to the cross bearers.

claims for this purpose.

` In the drawings,

Figs. 1 and la constitute a plan view of a Duryea underframe embodyingthe invention; Figs. 2, 2a and 2b constitute a side elevation,

partly in section, of the un Figs. 1 and 1a;

derframe shown in Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1a; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the car underframe comprises bodybolsters indicated generally in Figs. 1 and la at 1 and 2, andinterconnected side sills 3 and end sills 4. The body bolsters may be ofany suitable type but preferably comprise as shown in Figs. 2 and 2b, acenter brace casting 5, top and bottom cover plates 6 and 7 respectivelyand'laterally extending diaphragms or webs 8'which extend from thecenter brace to the side sills of the car body. On both sides of thecenter brace casting, openings are provided for the passage of channelmembers 9 which are connected together as hereinafter described andconstitute a movable center member. The side sills 3 are likewiseconnected by suitable cross bearers as indicated generally at l0 inFigs. 1 and la, these cross bearers being provided with openings for thepassage of the center member.

Draft and buffing forces are transmitted to the center memberthrough anysuitable coupler gears mounted atthe ends of the center member andincluding couplers 11 (Figs. 1 and la) which kare mounted for limitedmovement with respect to the center member to provide reduced trainslack of the order of one inch or less ifV desired.

These coupler gears may be of any suitable type and their particularform constitutes no part per se of the invention. For example, thecoupler gear disclosed in the co-pending application of Otho C. Duryea,Serial No. 460,505, filed June 1l, 1930, may be employed.

When a bufling blow is imparted to the center member at either end ofthe car body, the center member tends to move inwardly with respect tothe car bolsters and when a draft force is imparted to said centermember at either end of the car body, the center member Vtends to bepulled outwardly relative to the car bolster. This relative movementbetween the center member and the car bolsters isresisted and the carbody is cushioned against draft and bufiing forces by means of asuitable cushioning gear which may have, for examplethe form shown inFig. 2b. Referring to this figure, a coil spring or springs 12 arepositioned in the center member adjacent thebolster, said yspring 12bearing at one end against a follower plate 13 which normally abutsagainstthe c enter -bracecasting 5. A link y14, Vwhich is pinned at 15`to the center brace .5,- extends through the coil spring 12 and througha follower plate 1 6, said link being vprovided with an enlarged head17. When a draft force is applied to the center member at therend of thecar shown in Fig. 2b, the `center member moves from' left to right asseen in Fig. 2b andY suitable Istopsy 18 that are secured to the center'member in any suitable manner engage the follower` plate 16 andcompress the spring l2 against the center brace casting 5. When abufiing force is applied to the center member at this end of the car,the

center member moves from right to left as seen in Fig. 2b and suitablestops (not shown) on the center member engage the follower plate 13 andcompress the'spring 12 against the follower plate 16 which is now heldstationary by virtue ofthe link `14,. Thus movement of the centerVmember in either direction relative to the car body and bolsters iscushioned by the resilient cushioning gear. It will be understood thatthe same or a; similar cushioning gear is employed at the opposite endof the car structure and that the particular form of' these cushioninggears constitutes no part per se of the present invention.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 2a and 2b, the channels 9 are connectedtogether by means of a top cover plate 19 which is preferably continuousand extends substantially the entire distance between the car bolsters,the ends of this cover plate being preferably spaced from the adjacentcenter braces 5 by a predetermined amount as shown in Fig. 2b and beingpreferably reinforced by means of tie plates 20. The predetermineddistance between the ends ofthe cover plate and the center bracesdefines the maximum amount of movement of the center member relative tothe car body and bolsters, which may be of the order of seven inches ormore in either direction to provide long cushioning travel. In a similarway the channels 9 are connected by a bottom cover plate 21 whichextends substantially the entire distance between the car bolsters, theends of said bottom cover plate being spaced front the adjacent centerbraces 5 by the aforesaid predetermined distance and being preferablyreinforced by tie plates 22. The top and bottom cover plates 19 and2lmay be made in one piece or may comprise a plurality of inter-connectedsections, said cover plates and channels constituting a box-like centermember which has the same cross-sectional form throughout its lengthbetween thecar holsters. In the drawings, the top cover plate 19comprises a single sheet of material, whereas the bottom cover plate 21comprises a plurality of inter-connected sections which are overlappedand connected together by suitable rivets as shown at 23 in Fig. 2b.This permits of removing one section of the bottom cover plate in orderto provide access to the cushioning units. It will be understood,however, thatJ the sections may bewelded together instead of riveted.

A cross-section through the center member is shown in Fig. 5. Owing tothe use of the continuous top and bottomcover plates, the'secti-onmodulus is increased and at the same time the 'area of effectivematerial in the cross-section is increased without adding greatly to theWeight ofthe center member, so that stresses in the material arereduced.

Novel cross bearer construction is required in order t-o permit thepassage therethrough of a center member having a cross-sectional formshown in Fig. 5, and one form of cross bearer construction is shown inFigs. 3 and 4, these figures illustrating separate cross bearers of theunderframe which are, however, the same in all essentialrespects.Referring to Fig. 4, which illustrates the cross bearers at oppositeends of the car structure which are immediately adjacent the bodybolsters, each of these cross bearers comprises a pair of flanged platesor webs 24 which extend from the side sills of the carl to oppositesides of the center member as shown in Figs. 1 and la, said platesterminating in spaced vertical flanges 24. The plates 24 are connectedtogether at the center of the car by means of a top tie bar 25 which asshown is an, angle having both of its faces riveted to the plates 24 bymeans of rivets 26. Intermedi-l ate the plates 24, the vertical ange ofthe angle 25 is bent into the horizontal plane as shown at 27 in Figs.2a and 4, the horizontal flange 27 dening'the'top of vthe vopening inthe cross means of a bottom tie bar-28 which as shown 1s a Z-bar havingits vertical and vlower horizontal faces riveted to the plates 24 bymeans ofrivets 29. The upper horizontal iiange30 of Z-bar 28 defines thebottom edge of the opening inthe cross bearer through which the centermember extends, and the sides of this opening are defined by the innervertical fianges of the plates 24. Substantially the same constructionis embodied in the cross bearers at the central portion of the carstructure, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, andthe same reference charactersare employed to designate the corresponding parts.

Suitable means are provided for guiding the center member and for takingthe wear at the corners of the .center member` as it moves through theopenings in the cross bearers. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, angles 31 arelprovided `in each corner of the openings in the cross bearers, theseangles being secured to the center member in any suitable manner as byrivets which are countersunk on the faces of the-angles which slidablyengage the cross bearers. As shown in Fig. 2b, the lower angles 31 aresecured to the overlapped portion of the plates 21, one section of thecover plate terminating between the ends of the angles so that spacersor fillers 32 are preferably employedat the end of this section. Asshown in 2a, spacers or fillers 33 may be employed at the lower angles31 at the intermediate cross bearers. y

Preferably longitudinal strengthening members or torque arms S4 extendon each side of the center member from each bolster to the next adjacentcross bearer, these members strengthening the underframe and serving asadditional supports for the car floor. Preferably the outer ends of themembers 34 comprise parts of the bolster construction, the verticalinner faces of the webs of Athese members constituting the outer sidesof the bolster ropenings through which the channels 9 pass while thelaterally extending plates 8 andthe top and bottom cover plates 6 and 7are suitably connected to these members as by rivets 35. The inner ends`of members 34 are suitably secured to the plates 24 as by means of therivets 26 above referred to and by additional rivets 36. Preferably theconnection of members 34 to the plates 24 is strengthened by theprovision of gusset plates 37 which are secured to the members and tothe plates 24 in any suitable way as by rivets 38.

Preferably the several cross bearers are also connected together bylongitudinally extending members. In the form shown, Z-bars 39 extendbetween each two cross bearers, said Z-bars being connected at theirends to the cross bearers by means of plates 40 and rivets 41. As shownin Fig. 5, these Z-b'ars serve to support the flooring of the car andalso to guide the center member by virtue of their engagement with thetop cover plae 19. The several cross'bearers may likewise be connectedby additional longitudinally extending angles 42 which as shown aresecured to the bottom tie bars 28 by suitable means such as plates 43and rivets 44. While the Z-bars 39 preferably extend only betweenadjacent cross bearers, the angles 42 may extend continuously betweenthe two end cross bearers. Y

By virtue of the cross-sectional form of the center member, includingthe top and bottom cover plates extending continuously between thebolsters, the distribution of material is more efficient and thestrength of the center member is materially greater than in prior Duryeaunderframes because the section modulus for the cross-v sectional. formof the center member isincreased and because the area of material in thecross section is likewise increased, resulting in a decrease in stressinthe material. The use of a center member of this improved type has beenmade possible by new and improved cross bearer construction in which thecross bearers have been built up of a plurality of separate elementsrigidly tied together in such a way as to constitute a strong rigidtransverse member of the car underframe while at the same `timeproviding the large opening required for the center member andefficiently guiding the same during its movement relative to the carbody.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the formdescribed and illustrated in the drawings and that changes may be madein the form, details of construction and arrangement ofthe parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Reference is therefore to behad to the appended claimsfor a definition of the limits of theinvention.

What is claimedis:

1. In a oar body of the type 'embodying cross bearers and bolsters and acenter member extending substantially the length of the' car structureand mounted for movement relative thereto, the combination with saidbolsters and cross bearers of a center member comprising a pair ofspaced channels and ccntinuoustop and bottom cover plates connectingsaid channels-intermediate bolsters and forming a closed hollow column,said bottom cover .plate comprising a plurality oi overlappinginterconnected sections, said center member-.extending slidably throughsaid cross bearers and the ends of said cover plate being adapted toengage the bolsters to limit positively the exent of movement of thecenter member, the length of saidk cover plates being less than thedistance between said bolsters by a predetermined amount.

` 2. Ina car structure of the type embodying a center member extendingsubstantially the length of the car structure and mounted for movementrelative to the car body cross bearer structure having an openingtherein, a center member extending slidably through said opening andcomprising a pair of spaced channels and top and bottom cover platesconnecting said channels and .extending on either side of said crossbearer structure, said channels and cover plates forming a closed hollowcolumn and guide and wear members secured to the edges of said centermember adjacent each cross bearer and having sliding engagement withsaid cross bearer structure.

3. In a car body of the type having cross bearers each provided with anopening for the passage of a movable draft and buiiing column, abuilt-up cross bearer structure comprising a pair of vertical transverseplates the inner ends of which are spaced apart and provided withvertical fianges, a tie bar connecting the upper portions of said platesand having a horizontal iiange, and a tie bar connecting thelower,portions of said plates and having a horizontal flange, saidvertical and horizontal flanges defining said opening for the passage ofthe center member and guiding and supporting the same during itsmovement.

4. In a car structure, a cross bearer comprising a pair of transverseplates the inner ends of which are spaced apart and provided withvertical flanges, a tie bar connecting the upper portions of lsaidplates and havi'nga horizontal flange, a tie bar connecting the lowerportions of said plates and having a horizontal flange, a draft andbuffing column mounted for movement relative to the car structure andhaving a substantially rectangular cross section, said column extendingmovably through the opening in the cross bearer defined by said verticaland horizontal flanges, said flanges guiding and supporting said columnduring its movement, and angles secured to the edges of said centermember adjacent said cross bearer and having sliding engagement withsaid flanges.

, 5. In a car structure of the type embodying a continuous draft andbufling column extending substantially the length of the car structureand mounted for movement relative thereto, a pair of body bolsters, abuilt-up cross bearer structure intermediate said bolsters comprising apair of transverse `members having their inner ends spaced apart, a tiebar connecting the upper portions of said members, and a tie barconnecting the lower portions of said members, the inner ends of saidmembers and said tie bars deiining a single substantially rectangularclosed opening in said cross bearer structures and a draft and buflingcolumn having a substantially rectangular cross section and extendingmovably through said opening, said column comprising a pair of spacedparallel vertical members and a pair of spaced parallel horizontalmembers inter-connected to form a closed hollow column extendingsubstantially continuously between the body bolsters, said horizontalmembers terminating at predetermined distances from said bolsters andbeing adapted to engage the latter to positively limit the extent ofmovement of said column through said opening and relative to the oarbody.

6. In a car structure of the type embodying a continuous draft andbufling column extending substantially the length of the car structureand mounted for movement relative thereto, a pair of body bolsters, aplurality of cross bearers intermediate said bolsters each having asingle closed substantially rectangular opening therein, a draft andbuing column of substantially rectangular vcross section extendingslidably through said openings, said column comprising a pair of spacedparallel vertical members and a pair of spaced parallel horizontalmembers interconnected to form a closed hollow column, andlongitudinally extending members connecting said cross bearers and soconstructed and arranged as to guide said column in its slidingmovement.

7. In a car structure of the type embodying a continuous draft andbuflng column extending substantially the length of the car structureand mounted for movement relative thereto, a pair of body bolsters, aplurality of cross bearers intermediate said bolsters each having asingle closed substantially rectangular opening therein, a draft andbufimg column of substantially rectangular cross section extendingslidably through said openings, said column comprising a pair of spacedparallel vertical members and a pair of spaced parallel horizontalmembers interconnected to form a closed hollow column, andlongitudinally extending members connecting said cross bearers andhaving horizontal flanges in contact with one of the horizontal membersof said column for guiding the latter in its sliding movement.

8. In a car structure of the type embodying a continuous draft andbufling column extending substantially the length of the car structureand mounted for movement relative thereto, a pair of body bolsters, aplurality of cross bearers intermediate said bolsters each having asingle closed substantially rectangular opening therein, a draftand-buiiing column of substantially rectangular cross section extendingslidably through said openings, said column comprising a pair of spacedparallel vertical members and a pair of spaced parallel horizontalmembers interconnected to form a closed hollow column, andlongitudinally extending members connecting said cross bearers and eachhaving an upper and a lower horizontal flange, said lower flanges beingin contact with the upper horizontal member of said column for guidingthe latter in its sliding'movement, and said upper flanges serving tosupportthe flooring of the car structure.

SIGVARD SIMONSON.

